a list of good things
Given the year-end tradition of lists (in case you couldn’t tell by yesterday’s James Brown eulogy, I am now officially operating on a one-week delay), I thought I’d offer this mismatched collection of recent discoveries, farewells and rediscoveries:
Deep Blue
I don’t know if it’s part of being pregnant or just a side effect from being too nauseous and exhausted to do anything else but watch TV and slowing running out of viewing options, but Julia has developed a sudden interest in nature documentaries. I was previously neutral on the subject (I’ll gladly watch a good wolf or tiger attack if I happen to stumble across it, yet it’s never something I go looking for), but that all changed after I watched Deep Blue. The documentary features a variety of marine life (everything from penguins to flora) via some of the most breathtaking footage I have ever seen. It’s absolutely mesmerizing – way better than the pro-shark propaganda 3D IMAX we saw at the Natural History Museum in D.C. over Thanksgiving, which featured exactly zero shark attacks. I bought Deep Blue on DVD for Julia for Christmas, but it’s available on Netflix and well worth the rental.
The Wire
Chances are that if you know me, I’ve already pushed this show on you, so I’ll keep this brief and leave the hyperbole (with which I fully agree with, by the way) to The Slate. If that’s not enough, the show is also thoroughly endorsed by Bill Simmons and my brother. Just watch the first three episodes, and if you’re not hooked, that’s fine. Just don’t ever talk to me again.
Lucali’s
What do you do when a restaurant serving the best pizza you’ve ever had suddenly opens a couple of blocks away on a quiet residential street? You eat there at least once a week, start buying looser clothes and thank the food gods. Lucali’s is an enjoyably minimalist, cash only, BYOB establishment with no menu. They serve pizza and calzones, and they’re usually out of calzones. Hopefully this will keep the place from getting too popular, but there’s already an hour wait on weekend nights and they don’t even have a sign out front (and haven’t had a grand opening yet). It doesn’t matter, though – I’d wait two hours if I had to. It’s that good.
the lunch places I will miss from midtown east (an otherwise brutal neighborhood to find a good bite to eat)
Oms/b: Aside from the bizarre name, there is absolutely nothing not to like about this place. A nice variety of beautiful and delicious (not to mention healthy) Japanese rice balls at a decent price made it my mainstay for the last few months on the job. They would probably double their business by moving thirty blocks south, though. Maybe the location scout is also responsible for the name.
Sophie's: I eventually burnt out on Sophie’s, but I have nothing but my gluttony to blame. Pernil, yellow rice and red beans. Mmmm… After this place opened I was noticeably more upbeat for weeks. Whoever opened this chain is making an absolute killing.
Carl’s: Every month or so I would crave a cheesesteak, and with Carl’s a couple of blocks away, I was in good hands. Granted the majority of the staff looks like they’d rather fight you than make your sandwich (get it to go), but the cheesesteaks are solid. They can’t touch Philly Slim’s, but at least you don’t have to breathe the city’s dirtiest air (thanks, Port Authority) to get your food.
Baby Bo’s: By far the best burrito anywhere remotely near the neighborhood. They deliver, but the decor (Dia de los Muertos figurines, strings of lights, refreshingly low lighting) make it well worth the trip. Great lunch specials.
The Chelsea Market
While I didn’t fully appreciate how surreal it would be to work in the same building I had four years ago (the previously mentioned catering company), I had also forgotten how great the place is. I can walk down four flights of stairs (or take the elevator) and get Thai food, sushi, soup, panini, baked goods, bagels, espresso, produce, etc. And most of the stuff is high quality. If you’re ever in the neighborhood (9th between 15th & 16th), it’s well worth a visit – I’m always surprised by the number of New Yorkers that have never heard of the place.
Deep Blue
I don’t know if it’s part of being pregnant or just a side effect from being too nauseous and exhausted to do anything else but watch TV and slowing running out of viewing options, but Julia has developed a sudden interest in nature documentaries. I was previously neutral on the subject (I’ll gladly watch a good wolf or tiger attack if I happen to stumble across it, yet it’s never something I go looking for), but that all changed after I watched Deep Blue. The documentary features a variety of marine life (everything from penguins to flora) via some of the most breathtaking footage I have ever seen. It’s absolutely mesmerizing – way better than the pro-shark propaganda 3D IMAX we saw at the Natural History Museum in D.C. over Thanksgiving, which featured exactly zero shark attacks. I bought Deep Blue on DVD for Julia for Christmas, but it’s available on Netflix and well worth the rental.
The Wire
Chances are that if you know me, I’ve already pushed this show on you, so I’ll keep this brief and leave the hyperbole (with which I fully agree with, by the way) to The Slate. If that’s not enough, the show is also thoroughly endorsed by Bill Simmons and my brother. Just watch the first three episodes, and if you’re not hooked, that’s fine. Just don’t ever talk to me again.
Lucali’s
What do you do when a restaurant serving the best pizza you’ve ever had suddenly opens a couple of blocks away on a quiet residential street? You eat there at least once a week, start buying looser clothes and thank the food gods. Lucali’s is an enjoyably minimalist, cash only, BYOB establishment with no menu. They serve pizza and calzones, and they’re usually out of calzones. Hopefully this will keep the place from getting too popular, but there’s already an hour wait on weekend nights and they don’t even have a sign out front (and haven’t had a grand opening yet). It doesn’t matter, though – I’d wait two hours if I had to. It’s that good.
the lunch places I will miss from midtown east (an otherwise brutal neighborhood to find a good bite to eat)
Oms/b: Aside from the bizarre name, there is absolutely nothing not to like about this place. A nice variety of beautiful and delicious (not to mention healthy) Japanese rice balls at a decent price made it my mainstay for the last few months on the job. They would probably double their business by moving thirty blocks south, though. Maybe the location scout is also responsible for the name.
Sophie's: I eventually burnt out on Sophie’s, but I have nothing but my gluttony to blame. Pernil, yellow rice and red beans. Mmmm… After this place opened I was noticeably more upbeat for weeks. Whoever opened this chain is making an absolute killing.
Carl’s: Every month or so I would crave a cheesesteak, and with Carl’s a couple of blocks away, I was in good hands. Granted the majority of the staff looks like they’d rather fight you than make your sandwich (get it to go), but the cheesesteaks are solid. They can’t touch Philly Slim’s, but at least you don’t have to breathe the city’s dirtiest air (thanks, Port Authority) to get your food.
Baby Bo’s: By far the best burrito anywhere remotely near the neighborhood. They deliver, but the decor (Dia de los Muertos figurines, strings of lights, refreshingly low lighting) make it well worth the trip. Great lunch specials.
The Chelsea Market
While I didn’t fully appreciate how surreal it would be to work in the same building I had four years ago (the previously mentioned catering company), I had also forgotten how great the place is. I can walk down four flights of stairs (or take the elevator) and get Thai food, sushi, soup, panini, baked goods, bagels, espresso, produce, etc. And most of the stuff is high quality. If you’re ever in the neighborhood (9th between 15th & 16th), it’s well worth a visit – I’m always surprised by the number of New Yorkers that have never heard of the place.
posted by Justin at 6:33 PM
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